As industries move from sustainability targets to implementation, coatings that deliver both high performance and measurable emissions reduction will define the next generation of products. Graphene nanotubes are positioned to play a central role in this transition.
The manufacture of conductive formulations and coated products typically results in high emissions, making them less eco-friendly overall. However, replacing traditional conductive fillers with graphene nanotubes can reduce CO₂ emissions by up to 26%. As industries accelerate decarbonization, graphene nanotubes, combining innovation with industrial scalability, are emerging as a key enabling technology for high-performance, lower-carbon-footprint paints and coatings.
Conductive polymers, primers, and coatings are essential for modern electronics, vehicles, and healthcare and industrial equipment. Emissions from the manufacture of conductive materials can, however, be a third higher compared to the manufacture of non-conductive equivalents. This is largely due to the high loading levels required for traditional conductive additives, inefficient material usage, higher transportation emissions, and more complex processing.
Replacing traditional additives with a dosage of just tenths or even hundredths of a per cent of graphene nanotubes allows manufacturers to significantly reduce the carbon footprint of conductive coatings by a minimum of 5%—and even up to 26%.
The level of emission reduction that’s possible depends on the type of conductive additive being replaced, such as MWCNTs or carbon black, as well as on the specific resin or polymer system used in the coating formulation. To quantify this impact, OCSiAl, in collaboration with a leading environmental sustainability consultancy, conducted an internal study comparing emissions across a range of applications in industries including automotive, construction, and energy. The estimates were performed using an ISO 14040/14044-compliant Life Cycle Assessment, based on the bill of materials and covering raw materials, transportation, processing, and waste associated with conductive additive manufacture.
“This research is part of OCSiAl’s sustainability strategy. We support customers across the value chain through improved production efficiency, renewable energy use, and optimized logistics,” has stated Konstantin Notman, CEO of OCSiAl.